Can Stoker and Propane boiler share chimney?

1906 house. Single-flu brick chimney- center of house, inlet in basement- Roughly 40' tall. I'm almost certain at some point it had a coal stove in it. Now, it has an old propane boiler exhausting through it. I just got a Kast Console II (goodbye Surdiac!). Can I share the chimney with the propane boiler? Both would be in the basement.

It won't agree with code, but the code was written to prevent oxygen from feeding a creosote chimney fire through another appliance, coal produces NO creosote. Yes, it can be done safely.

It's against code but alot of people do it. Just make sure you vent the stoker above the propane boiler.

Again, against code. Codes were written to protect idiots from themselves. Somewhere, sometime, somebody was injured for doing what you are suggesting.

I would never attempt it personnaly if there was any chance the propane and coal would be running at the same time. Sizing of the existing chimney could be an issue, plus the draft control devices are probably different and could fight each other.

Mutiple CO detectors are be a must regardless.

Ok- Here's the beast. If i recall, its a 6"x9" flu. Not much room above the LP exhaust. If I do it, I'd either tap into the galv pipe or open a new hole in the bricks under it (actually, that would be reopening an old hole.

By not venting 'above' the boiler, define 'above'

Looks like that chimney goes up between floor joists, ceiling joists, and roof rafters. If this is true, I would build another flue right up alongside that brick chimney. Much safer than doing what you are suggesting.

Wallknight wrote:By not venting 'above' the boiler, define 'above'

Pipe the stoker "above" the propane boiler.......stoker stoves are always venting exhaust (CO) into the chimney. That way you don't get any fumes into the room through the propane flue pipe. Cut another hole in the chimney below the hole you already have. Reconfigure the piping of your propane furnace and place it in the lower hole with the stoker piped into the upper hole. Try to get both holes at least 16" apart. Like steamup says.....multiple CO detectors will be a must.

Power vent the Propane Appliance -- vent the Solid fuel naturally

Done

SAFE!

The sleeping dog has awakened...

Good suggestion Sting.

Looking at the picture it is obvious someone modified the chimney once before. The current location is much to close to the wood joists and floor deck to safely vent a solid fuel appliance. 18" min clearance for single wall pipe. Less for double wall depending on the manufacturer's UL listing.

That propane boiler is no spring chicken. Sting has the right idea.

Sting has the right and safest idea for sure. I bet Wallknight is trying to save some money in this rough economy. I know quite a few people that vented their chimney this way and it's worked for them for years.

Yeah, I know a lot of people have done this safely for years and realistically there is only one time you need to meet code - the morning after you've had a fire and are talking to your insurance company. That's not a gamble I'd be willing to take. No, Sting has the best solution and it doesn't cost all that much for the peace of mind. Lisa

If done properly running the coal stove and the furnace into the same stack isn't any more dangerous than running your water heater and furnace into the same chimney which is allowed by code. two appliance are allowed, different fuels aren't allowed because of the chimney fire danger with wood. as far as safety goes, be sure you have proper clearances from the floor joists, make sure the chimney doesn't dead-end (be sure that there is a cleanout located substantially lower than the lowest flue and keep it clean of birds and debris) and you will be as safe as can be. done properly it is as safe or safer than powerventing anything.

Lisa, i'm sure there are many things in everyone's house that doesn't meet current code, especially in an older home. this idea that an insurance company is going to deny coverage for something that doesn't meet code and is unrelated to the cause of the fire that burned your home down is absurd. Unless the insurance company can determine that you rigged something with the intent to purposefully burn your home down to collect the insurance money, they will cover a loss resulting from almost any stupid thing you do.

Hi Berlin,

I beg to differ. It's been my experience that insurance companies go out of their way to find ways not to pay claims. Sure there are a lot of older home with things out of current code but I suspect that since this is a new appliance addition and that requires a code inspection (at least in my county) if it has a fire traced back to it, they will be checking to see the county inspection records. It's for that reason I always pull a permit for everything, even if I'm doing the work. Just my opinion, but that's not a gamble I'm willing to take. Lisa

well, I disagree lisa. Regardless, what the OP's trying to do will cause no fire hazard or risk of loss. It can be done safely without blindly following code.